SeriesFest Season One: Denver’s Partnership for a Creative Community

The world is full of great storytellers. What the world has been missing up until now is an engaging and ambitious festival in which to showcase those creative individuals with a passion for parlaying that creativity specifically into episodic television. As the entertainment industry is continually expanding and evolving, it is imperative to introduce a diverse range of programming to meet the collective appetite of audiences who enjoy unique and diverse television content. This is where SeriesFest comes into play.

Designed as “an international celebration dedicated to showcasing the best new pilots from established and emerging content creators,” SeriesFest brings together the true pioneers in independent content development with a goal to establish a global marketplace for episodic storytelling. What better place than Denver, Colorado, to initiate such an exciting event? After all, it is the birthplace of cable television. Before this event could get off the ground, however, it took the innovative prowess of three driven women within the entertainment industry to breathe life into what will most certainly become a highly anticipated annual event here at the foot of the Rockies. With the combined passion, experience and expertise of the trifecta of talent that includes Randi Kleiner (New York-based CEO of Trifecta Studios), Kaily Smith Westbrook (Los-Angeles- and New Yorkbased actress, writer and producer) and Claire Taylor (associate producer for Triptyk Studios in New York; current resident of Colorado), SeriesFest Season One is ready to rock the stage in ways unprecedented. At this four-day event to be held June 18 through 21, attendees will be treated to a cornucopia of creativity in the form of 30 new pilots that will be screened; two popular series premiers; one reunion screening; plus several industry panels and events, all wrapped up in a variety of parties, receptions and dinners.

Opening night will be at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and the Sie Film Center will host the primary screening venue. This event of the summer will bring together industry luminaries, emerging artists and audiences that have a true passion to advance the art of storytelling and to innovate content, as well as just to celebrate the history of television and how its dialogue over the years has inspired others.

As CEO of SeriesFest, Randi is producing this event in partnership with the Denver Film Society, along with cofounder Kaily. More than just an event, however, Randi sees it as a community, and a much-needed one. “One thing that keeps being said to me is that there is no community of independent content creators; everyone is their own island,” she noted. “We are partnering with many great organizations in hopes to build that community and for SeriesFest and Denver to become a home for independent storytellers. We also hope people will fall in love with Colorado and that it becomes a premier destination for people to create new work.”

With her extensive background in producing events for the New York Film Festival, consulting with the Las Vegas Film Festival and her own event production agency, Trifecta Studios, Randi has been producing large-scale events across the country with a variety of high-profile brands, and about a year ago when Kaily brought to her the idea of including television in a film festival, she realized its tremendous potential. “While I thought it was a good idea, I couldn’t determine how to fit an entire expanding industry into basically a panel and a screening,” explained Randi, who initially struggled with the idea of including TV in a film festival. After careful consideration, Randi had the inspiring idea to simply launch a new festival specifically for this medium. Kaily was more than thrilled with the idea and was eager to jump on board; she suggested setting the stage for this event in her hometown of Denver.

Kaily, who met Randi through Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts summer camp back east when they were kids, was excited to join Randi and is grateful for all of the support Denver has given to the event. As the winner of the Best Actress Award at the 2009 New York Television Festival for playing the role of Merrideth Weisman in MERRIme. com, a half-hour comedy pilot presentation, Kaily is appreciative of such a receptive audience found in in this city. In fact, it was her experience with her own series that made her realize the industry truly needs and deserves something like this, and she does not take community support for granted. “There is a lot of interest in this event and we have had so much support from the community, including the Governor’s office and the Denver Film Society,” said Kaily. “We are excited about all of the activities that will take place and we hope to keep this going for many years. We want this to be the place where producers and agents find new materials, shows and creative talent. It is our Claire fully appreciates the need for this event and as a self-professed cinephile she cannot deny the power of a series, whether streamed on the Internet or watched on cable. “Serialized content is rapidly becoming the forefront in story telling,” she explained. “With a series, the audience is allowed the time and space to really get to know the characters and the intricacies of the world. SeriesFest is tapping into the expansive audience that television reaches. It is an opportunity for storytellers to showcase their talents and for the audience to get a greater understanding of the work that goes into making the series.” Just as Kaily and Randi have high hopes for this event and the future it will hold in shaping episodic television, Claire is equally expressive about her desire for its sustainability over the coming years. “My hope is that SeriesFest becomes a staple event for the entertainment industry and for Denver,” she commented. “Ideally, I’d love to see SeriesFest become, as the LA Times called purpose to be a marketplace and to have a place to truly celebrate television.”

According to Kaily, some of the categories for which entries have been submitted include comedy, drama, non-fiction (docu-series), reality and limited series, all of which will be a half hour or up to one hour in length. “As part of our script competition, three finalists will take part in a writers’ lab over the weekend, which will culminate at a table read with professional actors in front of a live audience,” said Kaily. “A producer will then choose a script with the idea of developing it for television over the course of the next year.

Claire, a Colorado native like Kaily, admits that her involvement with the festival will require her to assume multiple roles, which she will navigate with enthusiasm and purpose. “My main role at SeriesFest is to be the eyes and ears on the ground for Kaily and Randi,” she said. “I will serve as the local connection and introduce them to some of my favorite vendors and posts to host SeriesFest events.

Claire fully appreciates the need for this event and as a self-professed cinephile she cannot deny the power of a series, whether streamed on the Internet or watched on cable. “Serialized content is rapidly becoming the forefront in story telling,” she explained. “With a series, the audience is allowed the time and space to reallyget to know the characters and the intricacies of the world. SeriesFest is tapping into the expansive audience that television reaches. It is an opportunity for storytellers to showcase their talents and for the audience to get a greater understanding of the work that goes into making the series.”
Just as Kaily and Randi have high hopes for this event and the future it will hold in shaping episodic television, Claire is equally expressive about
her desire for its sustainability over the coming years. “My hope is that SeriesFest becomes a staple event for the entertainment industry and for Denver,” she commented. “Ideally, I’d love to see SeriesFest become, as the LA Times called it, the Sundance for television. But, mostly, I just
love seeing these ideas come to life.”

Claire remains highly appreciative of the people of Denver who are embracing this event with open arms and open minds. “My involvement
with this event grows more and more as we approach opening night,” she smiled. “I love learning about the community and the logistics of putting something like this together as things pop up. The people in Colorado have been very receptive to our ideas and us. But mostly, I’ve really enjoyed working with Kaily and Randi. They are incredibly smart, funny and beautiful women.” Randi, Kaily and Claire, along with the entire SeriesFest team, which includes a culturally diverse group of individuals, from producers to artists to business owners, are now set to pave the way for “the next great original voices in episodic television.” HLM

KAILY:
“We are excited about
all of the activities that
will take place and we
hope to keep this going
for many years. We want
this to be the place
where producers and
agents find new materials,
shows and creative
talent. It is our purpose
to be a marketplace and
to have a place to truly
celebrate television.”

RANDI:
“We are partnering with
many great organizations
in hopes to build
that community and for
SeriesFest and Denver
to become a home for
independent storytellers.
We also hope people
will fall in love with
Colorado and that it
becomes a premier
destination for people
to create new work.”

CLAIRE:
“My hope is that Series-
Fest becomes a staple
event for the entertainment
industry and for
Denver,” she commented.
“Ideally, I’d love to see
SeriesFest become, as
the LA Times called it,
the Sundance for television.
But, mostly, I just
love seeing these ideas
come to life.”

For more information on SeriesFest and how to secure tickets for the event, go online.

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